TEMUKA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE

Temuka Leader, Issue 2159, 5 February 1891, Page 2

TEMUKA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE

The annual general meeting of members of the Temuka Mechanic’s Institute was held on Tuesday evening. The chair was occupied by Mr James Blyth, the President. There was only a small attendance. The minutes of the previous annual meeting having been read and confirmed, thejehairman read the following report:— To the members of the Temuka Mechanics’ Institute. Gentlemen, —Your committee have much pleasure in again laying before you their annual report and balance-sheet for the year ending 1890. Your committee’s ordinary monthly meetings have been held regularly, and always fairly veil attended. The librarian has given general satisfaction, and has worked well in canvassing the town and district for subscribers, but the result has not bien what one might hare expected in a community like this, considering the low rate of the annual subscription. They have, therefore, to report the financial position much about the same as last year—that is, with very careful management they can only keep the reading-room and library open. They have lost a few members through tha year, but have been fortunate it getting their places fi.ledl with new one, and trust that this year mill be characterised by a still greater increase in the number. A subscription list has been started and taken round the town apd district by tha . librarian with the view of obtaining new books for the library, with the result that a sum of about £9 has been promised and partly collected, which you will see by tha balance-sheet before you, and your committee recommend that the list be kept open for a few weeks longer and an effort made to increase the snra already raised before the order is sent for the books. In conclusion your committee thank you all for your past support, and, with best wishes for your future prosperity, they now submit this report and bilaocesheet for your consideration and resign their charge into yonr hands. James Bltxh, President.

The balance sheet accompanying it showed that the total receipts for the year amounted to £45 7s lid, being hand 1890, £4’lss 6d, subscriptions and sale of old papers, £36 Is sd, and subscription received towards purchase of books £4 11s. The total expenditure was £36 4s 6d, the principal items being, insurance £3 9a sd, libarian’s salary and commission £2O 19a lid, and subscriptions to papers £9 2s 6d. The balance to credit at bank was shown as £9 3s sd. Against this there were outstanding liabilities o£ £5 17s 3d.

The chairman regretted that the financial position of the institute was practically no better than last year. To give members an opportunity of discussing the matter he begged to move the adoption of the report and balance sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr W. G. Rutland and carried without dissent. A vote ef thanks to the retiring officers was then passed. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. On the motion of Mr Coira seconded by Mr Storey, Mr James Blyth was re-elected President of the Institute.

Mr Blyth thanked those present £or the honor they had done him by reelecting him. He would always do his utmost for the Institute, but had hoped that there would have been some infusion of fresh blood. Mr Rutland moved that Mr Q-. McSheby Senllemun be elected vicepresident. Mv Morton had much pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr McSheby Gentleman begged to decline the honor, but the chairman and Messrs Morton, Egan, and Beri strongly supported the motion, which was carried with applause. Mr Gentleman regretted that no better person could have been found to occupy the position, Ho, however, thanked them very cordially for their confidence in him.

Mr W, Storey was re-elected secretary and treasurer, his conduct during the past year being eulogised. Mr Storey briefly returned thanks. The following committee were then elected, Messrs Beri, Sim, McLeod, Morton, W. Storey senr., Rutland, Egan, E. Lee, J. McOaskill and E. Whitehead. VOTES OE THANKS. Mr W. Storey senr, moved, that a vote of thanks be accorded to those proprietors of newspapers who had forwarded them to the institute free of charge, A hearty vote of thanks was also passed to Mr T. Buxton for auditing the books. The general meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair. COMMITTEE MEETING.

A committee meeting was then held.

It was decided that the monthly meeting be held on the second Tuesday in the month, as heretofore. The secretary was instructed to draw the attention of Messrs Hutton and Co. to the irregular delivery of papers and journals supplied by him. Some discussion ensued as to the arrangements of the reading room. It was generally considered that the librarian’s management was satisfactory. accounts, Accounts to the amount of H 9 6s 8d were passed for payment. The meeting then terminated,

TEMUKA ROAD BOARD. The monthly meeting of the above board was held on Tuesday last. Present—Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), J. Woodhead and C. Bissett. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £6B 12s 8d were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : Prom Mr W. Demuth, notifying that he had applied to the County Council for (a slaughtering license for part the Rifle reserve, and asking for the board’s consent. —Granted, Prom Messrs Woodhead and Son drawing attention to a weak bridge on Canal road leading to Reserve 1211, and asking ihat the same might be strengthened. —The overseer reported on the matter and it was agreed to supply necessary material, the applicants to find labor. Prom Mr P. T. Brosnahan, applying for|an extension of time for completion of |formation of Quinn’s road on account of the harvest setting in.—A months’ extension was granted.

otebseeb's report. The overseer’s report was read and dealt with as follows: — To the Chairman. Sir, —I have the honor to report for the past month as follows : Contract No. 34, shingling park of road through Barker’s swamp, has been completed, and passed for payment. Contract No. 35, formation on Rhodes’ Island, has not yet been commenced, although the time for completion of the work has expired. I believe the contractor is engaged harvesting, and intends to proceed with the work as soon as harvest is finished.

Contract No. , deepening drain and improving Greenaway’s road ; This work has been commenced, but not a great deal of progress has been made. During the month I have taken up 40ft of bridging on the Milford and Beach road, and filled up the space wilh soil. The first bridge on the Middle Swamp road ia totally unfit to carry a load. The capsill, girders, and deck require renewing. 1 have obtained timber for the girders, and intend to proceed with the work as soon as possible. I discontinued the purchase of eggs and birds on the 20th of hat month, as the sum passed for that purpose was about spent at that dace. Rates —1 have collected to date £577 13s 7d, leaving £4BB 15a 8d outstanding. I have the honor, etc., F. Archer. The clerk was instructed to collect outstanding accounts at once, and it was decided to notify by advertisement that defaulting ratepayers would be proceeded agrinst. DAMS AND WATER BACKS. Mr Woodhead drew attention to the practice which prevailed amongst some settlers of damming drains for irrigation purposes by means of clay. If the water rose these dates got washed, away and the drains got blocked. He suggested that in such cases the dams should be constructed of timber, or at least a few boards. — The overseer explained action already taken by him m one case. At present no particular damage had been done. The chairman suggested, and it was agreed to, that the overseer should have power to compel persons who desired to dam a drain to do so with timber so that the same might be easily removed, Mr Woodhead also drew attention to the fact that Mr Hayhurst was commencing his private water race, and be was asked to mention that he (MrHayhurst)Jwas desirous of putting pipes across the road in one or two places. —The board had no objection to the course proposed. THE OTEESEEE’S HOUSE. The overseer was authorised to have one of the rooms in his house papered. The meeting then terminated. GERALDINE TOWN BOARD. The monthly meeting of this board was held on Tuesday evening. Fresent Messrs A. White (chairman), W. S. Maslin, J. Williams, A. Sherratt, E. Hammond, N, Dunlnp, and J. Mundell. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : From Mr G. Taylor, asking for the name of Mr S. Gould to be substituted for his on the rate-roll for sections 27 .-.nd 28—The application being countersigned by Mr Gould, the transfer was agreed to. STRAY CATTLE. The ranger’s report for the month was read. Mr Mundell again drew attention to the large number of cattle allowed to roam m the street, doing damage to fences, gardens, etc. The owners evidently considered it better to pay the poundage fees than to keep their stock in. Other members endorsed Mr Mundell’s remarks, and it was unanimously decided that the poundkeeper should be instructed to baud to the police a list of those persons whose stock were found wandering three times in three months; the police to prosecute such persons. otbbseee’s report. The overseer’s report was read, and it was decided to call tenders for repairing the handrails on the bridge on the Cemetery road ; the chairman to accept a tender. DEFAULTING RATEPAYERS. The list of defaulting ratepayers was read over. Members remarked on its length, and it was decided to issue summonses for next Court day against all owing over a certain amount, and proceed thus in batches till the rates were paid.

UNREGISTERED DOGS. Only nine dogs having so far been registered, as against 45 last year, the clerk was instructed to hand the list to the police to take proceedings. OVERDUE BENTS. The rent-roll had been considerably reduced since the previous meeting. Mr W. King waited on the board and asked to be relieved of his lease. He found be was paying a great deal too much for it, and was now hopelessly in arrears with hia rent. He asked the board to cancel the lease and allow him time to pay the arrears of rent. He had no offer to make at present, but ns soon as possible, probably at the end of the threshing season, he would be able to pay off a good portion of the rent. Mr King having withdrawn the board considered the matter. After reviewing the circumstances it was decided to cancel the lease, on Mr King giving an undertaking to pay the arrears of rent. Tenders to be called for leasing the section for 21 years, the tenders to be in for the next meeting of the board. board to take immediate possession of the reserve.

BULL IN THE PARK. Mr Pearpoint, lessee of the large park, wrote declining to remove the bull kept by him in the park. He contended the bull was not dangerous, and as to the clause in the by-laws cited, he said his reading ef the by-law differed to that oc the board. After considering the letter it was unanimously decided to take legal proceedings against Mr Pearpoint under clauses four and five of By-law No. 5. accounts. Accounts amounting to £l7 Is 4d were passed for payment and the meeting terminated.